Golden Opportunity - Vol. 9, No. 3
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THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY -- GRANDPARENTING
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RThe Golden Opportunity -- GrandparentingS (Volume 9, Number 3, 1998) is an
extension newsletter prepared by Andrea Bressler, Clearfield Co.; Sandra Hall,
Clinton Co.; Debra Gregory, Huntingdon Co.; Nancy Covert, Jefferson Co.;
Juniata Co.; and Jane Mecum, Dauphin Co. This electronic version is for use
by other agents or directly by community members. (Professionals: Please
acknowledge the source of these materials if you re-use them).
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Volume 9, Number 3, 1998
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IN THIS ISSUE
Back in the Good Old Days
This Little Piggy Goes Into Cyberspace
Kids and Money
Pot-O-Gold
Buried Treasure
Stained Glass Bank
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Dear Grandparents,
What a great time of the year! School is out and the grandchildren will soon
be visiting. For some who do not get to see their grandchildren often, this
time of the often year offers an opportunity to be with their families.
Whether you get to visit weekly, monthly, or yearly, make the most of your
visits. Grandchildren of all ages can Rkeep you on your toesS and can bring
joy to our lives.
When you visit with one of your grandchildren, keep your expectations high,
but realistic. Often grandparents are disappointed if the grand-children
donUt behave a certain way or eat certain foods. It is important to remember
that young children are just that - CHILDREN. You can have a positive
influence by simply showing love and understanding as children continue to
grow through the various stages of development.
One issue that can be brought up during these visits is money. How to handle
it with small and older grandchildren can be a concern. This issue focuses on
a few of the concerns grandparents have when helping youngsters learn about
handling money.
Sincerely,
Jane Mecum, CFLE
Family Living Agent
HERE COME THE GRANDKIDS
Back In The Good Old Days
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Remember when candy was just a penny, bread cost a nickel and you walked to
school? If youUre a little younger, when you could get candy for a nickel out
of a vending machine, get a soda for a quarter, and go to the movies for fifty
cents?
It does seem as if things were cheaper when we were children. Whether you are
a grandparent or even a great-grandparent you probably realize that a dollar
just doesnUt seem to go as very far today. Now it cost about $4.00 to go to
the movies, you canUt buy anything for a penny, and vending machines want
dollar bills!
Has time changed all that much when it comes to money management? In RourS
time, yes things seem to be cheaper, but we made less money. I can remember
my grandmother complaining about the prices of things, just as my mother did
and now I do. But all three of us have one thing in common that we must pass
on to our children and grandchildren
-- MANAGE YOUR MONEY WISELY!
No matter how much money you have you need to know how to spend and save it
properly to get the things you need and want. ItUs never too early to teach
kids about money management. Here are some tips:
Ages 3 to 7:
Play games sorting, identifying or counting coins. While visiting this
summer open a lemonade stand. Give them a wallet or purse to carry their
coins or establish a RsafeS place to keep money.
Ages 8 to 12:
Set up some special chores they can do at your house. For example:
cutting out coupons, putting pictures in an album, or cleaning out a closet.
Help them make decisions on how that money should be spent or saved in an
account that you establish together.
Ages 13 to 17:
Again, there are chores this age group can do that can be time and energy
saving for you. Like mowing, cleaning out the basement, walking the dog or
even polishing the car. This might be done over the weekends or even after
school or during their yearly visits. These funds might be just what this
teen needs for those non-essentials like concert tickets, gas-money or special
CDUs.
The emphasis should be on learning about the working world and responsibility,
not about making thousands of dollars.
This Little Piggy Goes Into Cyberspace
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Your grandchildren may be learning about money management on the internet.
Carmen Cents is featured in the FDICUs new Internet site for kids called the
RLearning Bank.S To find the site on your home computer, to the FDICUs home
page (www.fdic.gov) and click on the correct symbol (the little pig.) Have
fun.
Prepared By: Jane A. Mecum, CFLE, Dauphin Co.
GRAND IDEAS
Kids and Money
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There seems to be a taboo about money. We hesitate to talk to kids about it.
We figure they'll learn how to handle it, Somehow. Somewhere. From Somebody.
Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. Talking about money doesn't
have to be a burden or a barrier. There are several things you can do as a
grandparent to help kids learn how to use money wisely.
* Take the child to a restaurant for a meal. When the bill comes, help the
child check to see if it is accurate and if there is tax included. Pay the
bill and count the change.
* Make an appointment at the bank and take the child with you. Talk about
savings and checking and ATMs. Ask the bank manager to give you a small tour
as these items are being discussed. You might wish to take the child to your
safe deposit box to see the important papers you keep there.
* Help your grandchild open a savings account. It can be just a few dollars.
Depending on the childUs age, he/she can do extra chores for you while at your
house to earn money to put into the account.
* Take another trip to the bank to add to the savings account. Be sure the
interest is posted in the child's savings account record so he/she can see the
balance growing. Make this an important event any way you can. Talk about a
safe place at home to keep the savings record.
* While at the bank, take another opportunity to open another type of account
available to children or to buy a Savings Bond, dependent of what types of
accounts the bank offers to children.
* With older children, find a time and place for a picnic in the park to talk
about the following concepts: money spent must never exceed income; personal
needs and wants versus family expenses and long- and short-term goals and
dreams. Discussion questions might be: Have you heard your parents or any of
your friends talk about living on a budget? Why should you have a spending
plan? What can you do if you need something and don't have enough money to
pay for it? What happens if you are always spending more than you have?
* Perhaps you could visit a stock broker to buy stock and visit an adult or
older grandchild who has started a successful small business.
* Go on a shopping trip to compare quality and value and make the purchase if
you are ready.
* Take a trip to talk with a lender and help the child understand that using
credit adds to the ultimate cost of an item.
Prepared By: Patricia L. Powley, CED, Dauphin Co.
CHILDRENUS PAGE
Pot-O-Gold Fruit Dip
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1 8 oz. carton vanilla low-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
sprinkle of cinnamon
Children can help wash and prepare fresh fruit such as melon balls, banana
slices, chunks of apple, strawberries, and blueberries. They can also help
measure and mix dip ingredients. To avoid a problem with double dipping, give
each child his own small bowl of dip.
Variation: Use tangerine, lemonade or limeade concentrate for flavor variety.
Buried Treasure
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Materials:
* dishpan, half-filled with sand
* coins
* several small gifts wrapped in plastic
* spoons
Bury plastic wrapped toys and coins in the sand and let your grandchildren use
the spoons to dig for Rburied treasureS.
If it is a nice day, this is a great outside activity. You can also add to the
fun by hiding the dishpan. Draw a simple map. Help the children use it to find
the location of the RtreasureS.
Stained Glass Bank
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Materials:
* brightly colored tissue paper
* small container of liquid starch
* a brush
* small sturdy jar or box with slit in top
Have children cut or tear tissue paper into small geometric or free form
shapes. Brush the box or jar with liquid starch and cover with tissue paper
pieces. The tissue can also be twisted or wadded for different effects. Have
fun exploring and overlapping colors. Coat the finished product with a light
coating of starch.
Variation: White glue thinned with water can be used in place of the starch.
Thin the glue until it is easy to brush.
$$$$$$$$$$$$
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If you cut a slit in the top of the box, it can become a bank to save for a
special treat for you and your grandchild. Be sure that both of you contribute
even if it is just a few pennies. The treat can be an ice cream cone, movie
date, or trip to an amusement park. Have your grandchild help count the money
periodically so you know how close you are to reaching your savings goal.
This will also help young children learn to recognize coins and their value.
Prepared By: Dottie F. Bromley
Family Living Agent, Somerset Co.
Toss Up Cup Game
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Poke a hole in the bottom of a paper cup. Tie a knot in a piece of yarn and
thread it through the cup so that the knot is on the outside of the cup. Tie
a small ring toy or yarn ball to the loose end of the yarn. Have the child
try to toss the toy in the air and then catch it in the cup.
Chunky Crayons
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You need:
* old crayons
* muffin pan
* aluminum foil
Have your grandchildren help peel the paper off of old crayons. Line each
muffin cup with foil. Put 5-10 pieces of crayon in each muffin cup. Preheat
the oven to 250 degrees. Put the crayons in the oven and let them melt. Turn
the oven off and leave them in the oven overnight to harden.
Use the new multi-colored crayons to do leaf rubbings or some mystery
rubbings.
Mystery Rubbings
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You need:
* paper
* colored pencils or crayons
* small objects to "rub"
(coins, keys, paper clips,
checkers, buttons)
Hide several items under a sheet of paper and tape down the corners. Using a
crayon or colored pencil, rub over the items to reveal the texture, imprint,
and shape. Use both sides of the coins to add to the challenge.
Play a guessing game with younger children to see if they recognize the items.
Children can do rubbings themselves and then use the rubbings as a matching
game with the real items.
Talk with your grandchild about what you might do with each coin. What could
we buy with it? How many would we have to save to get an ice cream cone?
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Dr. Dan Lago, Ph.D., Penn State Extension Aging Specialist
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
323 Ag Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-7871
Internet Address: djl@psu.edu